Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr.

Rabbi Israel Drazin

Dr. Israel Drazin served for 31 years in the US military and attained the rank of Brigadier General. He has a PhD in Judaic Studies and a Masters Degree in psychology and a Masters Degree in Jewish Literature. He is an attorney and a rabbi.

He developed the legal strategy that saved the military chaplaincies when its constitutionality was attacked in court, and received the Legion of Merit for his service.

Wiesel’s 1973 Novel ‘The Oath’ is Worth Reading Again

The plot is interesting, enlightening, and engaging, a delight to read. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 because of what he wrote about the horrors of the Holocaust, Russia, and other subjects.  He artistically paints his characters in his poetic style, as Rembrandt painted in oils and brought his subject to life with his paints. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Wiesel’s 1973 Novel ‘The Oath’ is Worth Reading Again Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Staff and Bylined Contributors

The Shabbat meal, its origin, beauty, and intelligence

The Shabbat meal contains significant items, including zemirot, which are medieval songs and ancient biblical psalms. They are a powerful means of preserving and showcasing Jewish culture’s rich and diverse nature. These sacred, secular, serious, and playful lyrics praise God and the Shabbat, transforming the meal into a time of joy and inspiration. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

The Shabbat meal, its origin, beauty, and intelligence Read More »

Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Novel Depicts Trials of Nazi Doctors at Nuremberg

The Nuremberg Nazi Doctors’ Trials, called United States of America v. Karl Brandt et al., occurred from December 9, 1946 to August 20, 1947. There were 23 defendants. Twenty were medical doctors. They were accused of performing Nazi human experimentation and mass murder under the guise of euthanasia. (Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Novel Depicts Trials of Nazi Doctors at Nuremberg Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr.

In Appreciation of Elie Wiesel’s ‘The Testament’

The Testament is a novel focusing on the Soviet leader Stalin murdering Russia’s greatest Jewish poets and novelists on August 12, 1952, and before that date. Wiesel gathers the lives, thinking, and acts of these martyrs by imagining the tale of Paltiel Kossova , a Jewish poet who, despite devoting himself to communism, was murdered by the communist leader. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

In Appreciation of Elie Wiesel’s ‘The Testament’ Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Staff and Bylined Contributors

Always Act with a Goal in Mind

Since childhood, one of my life guides has been “Always act with a goal in mind.” Later, I saw that Friedrich Nietzsche put the idea this way, “Humans need a goal to live,” and Andrew Carnegie wrote, “If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Always Act with a Goal in Mind Read More »

Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

In Defense of a 25-Year-Old Novel by Elie Wiesel

Many reviewers found Elie Wiesel’s 1999 book The Judges difficult and abandoned it before reaching the end. They enjoyed the dozens of this Nobel Peace Prize winners’ books but dismissed this one, although it is in easy-to-read English, because they could not understand what was happening. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

In Defense of a 25-Year-Old Novel by Elie Wiesel Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Staff and Bylined Contributors

Samson vs. Hercules

Many consider Hercules the strongest ancient Greek and Samson the most muscular Jew. Both tales involve eating and drinking. Both were engaged in romantic affairs; Hercules had four wives, and Samson had liaisons with three women and married one of them. The two had miraculous births involving a deity: Hercules’ father was the god Zeus, and Samson gave birth after his mother received a message from heaven delivered by an angel. The two births focused on their mother, the woman Zeus cohabited with, and the woman with whom an angel communicated. In both instances, the husbands were ignored. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Samson vs. Hercules Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

J.D. Vance’s ‘Hillbilly Elegy’: An Argument for a Universal Military Draft

One of the many things we can learn from Vance’s experience and use it to help not only hillbillies but all disadvantaged cultures. We can institute a universal draft. All males and females from age 18 must either join one of the military services for at least two years or a new, somewhat similar service that helps improve the lives of US citizens. Israel has such a system. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

J.D. Vance’s ‘Hillbilly Elegy’: An Argument for a Universal Military Draft Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

The Difference Between the Law and Justice

Most people need to realize the profound difference between law and justice. The difference also exists between ethics and thinking and other matters in this world, such as human habits and the active forces of nature. I will describe the difference by focusing on the 2024 movie The Beekeeper. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

The Difference Between the Law and Justice Read More »

Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Psalm 19: God’s Revelation Through Nature

According to the Psalm, one day and night is sufficient to bear testimony of the glory of God. But when we see the sun and moon performing their daily revolutions, “day after day” and “night after night,” we have an even brighter long-lasting testimony. This cycle of days denotes a system of laws. And if there is a law, there must be a lawgiver. [Turk Hill and Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Psalm 19: God’s Revelation Through Nature Read More »

Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

Maimonides Had Better Ideas than Hermann Cohen Did

German Jewish philosopher Hermann Cohen (1842-1918) was a neo-Kantian philosopher. Jewish Virtual Library describes him as “probably the most important philosopher in the nineteenth century.” His book Religion of Reason: Out of the Source of Judaism has been praised by many thinkers. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Maimonides Had Better Ideas than Hermann Cohen Did Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors